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CGG0D4D
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February 11, 2026
Question

ADE 4.5.12 crashes on macOS 15.7.3 immediately, repeatedly, even after resintall and reauth

  • February 11, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 10 views

ADE 4.5.12 briefly opens (for like a second) and then quits on macOS 15.7.3. I have tried many things, like restarting, uninstalling and restarting, manually deleting the activation.dat file to deauthorize and then reauthorizing. When I do all that, it works. I am able to open ADE when I delete the activation.dat file, and then reauthorize it. It seems to work. I am able to then open an ACSM file (a library ebook). All is well. And then again, quits. And then, whenever I open it again, it is back to quitting in a second. The time it stays open (if you can call it that) is not enough to do anything, not even ctrl-shift-d to deauthorize (which is why I resorted to deleting the activation.dat file manually). I see a very recent post of a similar problem, but not exactly, as their ADE seems to stay open to do stuff. Here’s the translated crash report:
 


Process:               Adobe Digital Editions [1664]
Path:                  /Applications/Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Digital Editions
Identifier:            com.adobe.adobedigitaleditions.app
Version:               4.5.12 (1)
Code Type:             X86-64 (Translated)
Parent Process:        launchd [1]
User ID:               501

Date/Time:             2026-02-11 07:18:09.4142 -0800
OS Version:            macOS 15.7.3 (24G419)
Report Version:        12
Anonymous UUID:        8F47B48D-75DB-38D8-0C2E-ECF01E9039A6


Time Awake Since Boot: 950 seconds

System Integrity Protection: enabled

Crashed Thread:        0  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

Exception Type:        EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGSEGV)
Exception Codes:       KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS at 0x0000000000000008
Exception Codes:       0x0000000000000001, 0x0000000000000008

Termination Reason:    Namespace SIGNAL, Code 11 Segmentation fault: 11
Terminating Process:   exc handler [1664]

VM Region Info: 0x8 is not in any region.  Bytes before following region: 4368957432
      REGION TYPE                    START - END         [ VSIZE] PRT/MAX SHRMOD  REGION DETAIL
      UNUSED SPACE AT START
--->  
      __TEXT                      104690000-1054ac000    [ 14.1M] r-x/r-x SM=COW  /Applications/Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Digital Editions

Thread 0 Crashed::  Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread
0   Adobe Digital Editions                   0x104a14ae6 adept::DRMProcessorImpl::syncToDeviceResp(uft::String const&, uft::Buffer const&) + 1110
1   Adobe Digital Editions                   0x104a25e6f adept::UrlLoader<adept::DRMProcessorImpl>::bytesReady(unsigned long, dp::Data const&, bool) + 479
2   Adobe Digital Editions                   0x1048e30ed CocoaStream::didFinishLoading() + 189
3   Adobe Digital Editions                   0x1048e3d06 -[RMSDKURLConnectionDelegate connectionDidFinishLoading:] + 38
4   CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f111953 __65-[NSURLConnectionInternal _withConnectionAndDelegate:onlyActive:]_block_invoke + 35
5   CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f1118b9 -[NSURLConnectionInternal _withConnectionAndDelegate:onlyActive:] + 159
6   CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f111800 -[NSURLConnectionInternal _withActiveConnectionAndDelegate:] + 45
7   CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f122af7 invocation function for block in URLConnectionClient_Classic::_delegate_didFinishLoading(void () block_pointer) + 46
8   CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f26c179 invocation function for block in URLConnectionClient_Classic::_withDelegateAsync(char const*, void (_CFURLConnection*, CFURLConnectionClientCurrent_VMax const*) block_pointer) + 85
9   libdispatch.dylib                     0x7ff8197b19fc _dispatch_client_callout + 6
10  libdispatch.dylib                     0x7ff81979f577 _dispatch_block_invoke_direct + 271
11  CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f0e910c RunloopBlockContext::_invoke_block(void const*, void*) + 24
12  CoreFoundation                        0x7ff8199f4a78 CFArrayApplyFunction + 62
13  CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f0e9044 RunloopBlockContext::perform() + 116
14  CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f0e8efc MultiplexerSource::_perform(void*) + 398
15  CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a3144e __CFRUNLOOP_IS_CALLING_OUT_TO_A_SOURCE0_PERFORM_FUNCTION__ + 17
16  CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a313f0 __CFRunLoopDoSource0 + 157
17  CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a311af __CFRunLoopDoSources0 + 203
18  CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2fe24 __CFRunLoopRun + 973
19  CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2f410 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 536
20  HIToolbox                             0x7ff8259360d4 RunCurrentEventLoopInMode + 281
21  HIToolbox                             0x7ff825938e60 ReceiveNextEventCommon + 188
22  HIToolbox                             0x7ff825ac219a _BlockUntilNextEventMatchingListInModeWithFilter + 63
23  AppKit                                0x7ff81d3fcdc1 _DPSNextEvent + 912
24  AppKit                                0x7ff81de8b097 -[NSApplication(NSEventRouting) _nextEventMatchingEventMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:] + 1263
25  AppKit                                0x7ff81d3edea9 -[NSApplication run] + 610
26  AppKit                                0x7ff81d3c1005 NSApplicationMain + 803
27  Adobe Digital Editions                   0x104694034 start + 52

Thread 1:: com.apple.rosetta.exceptionserver
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe520e4 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 16612

Thread 2:: com.apple.NSURLConnectionLoader
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904b4a mach_msg2_trap + 10
2   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819913704 mach_msg2_internal + 83
3   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff81990bbc3 mach_msg_overwrite + 574
4   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904e3b mach_msg + 19
5   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a31584 __CFRunLoopServiceMachPort + 145
6   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2ffed __CFRunLoopRun + 1430
7   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2f410 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 536
8   CFNetwork                             0x7ff81f2ec828 +[__CFN_CoreSchedulingSetRunnable _run:] + 447
9   Foundation                            0x7ff81aad7d29 __NSThread__start__ + 1014
10  libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
11  libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 3:: com.apple.NSEventThread
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904b4a mach_msg2_trap + 10
2   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819913704 mach_msg2_internal + 83
3   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff81990bbc3 mach_msg_overwrite + 574
4   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904e3b mach_msg + 19
5   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a31584 __CFRunLoopServiceMachPort + 145
6   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2ffed __CFRunLoopRun + 1430
7   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2f410 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 536
8   AppKit                                0x7ff81d5519ff _NSEventThread + 127
9   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
10  libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 4:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744

Thread 5:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744

Thread 6:: JavaScriptCore libpas scavenger
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff8199076f6 __psynch_cvwait + 10
2   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff8199472ae _pthread_cond_wait + 988
3   JavaScriptCore                        0x7ff9196772ba scavenger_thread_main + 1658
4   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
5   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 7:: LocalStorage
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff8199076f6 __psynch_cvwait + 10
2   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff8199472ae _pthread_cond_wait + 988
3   JavaScriptCore                        0x7ff917d4a233 WTF::ThreadCondition::timedWait(WTF::Mutex&, WTF::WallTime) + 163
4   JavaScriptCore                        0x7ff917cdd182 WTF::ParkingLot::parkConditionallyImpl(void const*, WTF::ScopedLambda<bool ()> const&, WTF::ScopedLambda<void ()> const&, WTF::TimeWithDynamicClockType const&) + 3186
5   WebKitLegacy                          0x7ff836e1c805 WebCore::StorageThread::threadEntryPoint() + 357
6   JavaScriptCore                        0x7ff917d4721d WTF::Thread::entryPoint(WTF::Thread::NewThreadContext*) + 237
7   JavaScriptCore                        0x7ff917aee9c9 WTF::wtfThreadEntryPoint(void*) + 9
8   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
9   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 8:: com.apple.CFStream.LegacyThread
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904b4a mach_msg2_trap + 10
2   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819913704 mach_msg2_internal + 83
3   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff81990bbc3 mach_msg_overwrite + 574
4   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904e3b mach_msg + 19
5   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a31584 __CFRunLoopServiceMachPort + 145
6   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2ffed __CFRunLoopRun + 1430
7   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a2f410 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 536
8   CoreFoundation                        0x7ff819a9f056 _legacyStreamRunLoop_workThread + 251
9   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
10  libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 9:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744

Thread 10:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744

Thread 11:: caulk.messenger.shared:17
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904ac6 semaphore_wait_trap + 10
2   caulk                                 0x7ff825450a42 caulk::semaphore::timed_wait(double) + 158
3   caulk                                 0x7ff825450964 caulk::concurrent::details::worker_thread::run() + 30
4   caulk                                 0x7ff8254506a8 void* caulk::thread_proxy<std::__1::tuple<caulk::thread::attributes, void (caulk::concurrent::details::worker_thread::*)(), std::__1::tuple<caulk::concurrent::details::worker_thread*>>>(void*) + 41
5   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
6   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 12:: caulk.messenger.shared:high
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff819904ac6 semaphore_wait_trap + 10
2   caulk                                 0x7ff825450a42 caulk::semaphore::timed_wait(double) + 158
3   caulk                                 0x7ff825450964 caulk::concurrent::details::worker_thread::run() + 30
4   caulk                                 0x7ff8254506a8 void* caulk::thread_proxy<std::__1::tuple<caulk::thread::attributes, void (caulk::concurrent::details::worker_thread::*)(), std::__1::tuple<caulk::concurrent::details::worker_thread*>>>(void*) + 41
5   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
6   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 13:: CVDisplayLink
0   ???                                   0x7ff8a6deaae0 ???
1   libsystem_kernel.dylib                0x7ff8199076f6 __psynch_cvwait + 10
2   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff8199472e1 _pthread_cond_wait + 1039
3   CoreVideo                             0x7ff823873f09 CVDisplayLink::waitUntil(unsigned long long) + 375
4   CoreVideo                             0x7ff823872ea0 CVDisplayLink::runIOThread() + 524
5   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819946e05 _pthread_start + 115
6   libsystem_pthread.dylib               0x7ff819942857 thread_start + 15

Thread 14:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744

Thread 15:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744

Thread 16:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744

Thread 17:
0   runtime                               0x7ff7ffe709b0 0x7ff7ffe4e000 + 141744


Thread 0 crashed with X86 Thread State (64-bit):
  rax: 0x000000030ea61f90  rbx: 0x00000001055f3fe8  rcx: 0x00007fca3b050808  rdx: 0x0000000000000000
  rdi: 0x0000000000000000  rsi: 0x0000000000000000  rbp: 0x000000030ea61ff0  rsp: 0x000000030ea61f30
   r8: 0x00007fca3b050808   r9: 0x0000000000000000  r10: 0x00007fc9fb815248  r11: 0x0000000000000000
  r12: 0x00007fca3a0ff300  r13: 0x0000000000000000  r14: 0x000000030ea62000  r15: 0x000060000242ed68
  rip: 0x0000000104a14ae6  rfl: 0x0000000000000206
 tmp0: 0x0000000104a14ad6 tmp1: 0x0000000104a14ad6 tmp2: 0x000000010651f6d0


Binary Images:
       0x2062b8000 -        0x206352fff dyld (*) <1a622d74-549f-3f53-bd70-412bd11345e8> /usr/lib/dyld
    0x7ff7ffe4e000 -     0x7ff7ffe7dfff runtime (*) <e1f1f05c-bc3d-3c2c-b87c-d85a3f811426> /usr/libexec/rosetta/runtime
       0x10f673000 -        0x10f6dafff libRosettaRuntime (*) <7742e99c-2006-3006-bc1e-1869448c6224> /Library/Apple/*/libRosettaRuntime
       0x104690000 -        0x1054abfff com.adobe.adobedigitaleditions.app (4.5.12) <c6688d4c-c8a3-3b9a-a71a-56a1fe9ac24b> /Applications/Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Digital Editions
       0x10fe76000 -        0x10ff95fff ePub3.dylib (*) <ef864836-2433-3ce1-8a26-c8f7717a4e81> /Applications/Adobe Digital Editions 4.5.app/Contents/Frameworks/ePub3.dylib
       0x11402f000 -        0x11403bfff libobjc-trampolines.dylib (*) <af846177-9337-3db6-94e2-ddba1a4396f0> /usr/lib/libobjc-trampolines.dylib
       0x123cd6000 -        0x124476fff com.apple.AGXMetal13-3 (329.2) <1470a949-a8d4-318f-8e10-5bb9a68d1101> /System/Library/Extensions/AGXMetal13_3.bundle/Contents/MacOS/AGXMetal13_3
    0x7ff81f0ae000 -     0x7ff81f4544aa com.apple.CFNetwork (1.0) <685aee49-ad61-3f1f-8df1-8cae74541c1a> /System/Library/Frameworks/CFNetwork.framework/Versions/A/CFNetwork
    0x7ff81979a000 -     0x7ff8197e1339 libdispatch.dylib (*) <6ca6112a-70c8-39a2-8cfa-da2139709d3c> /usr/lib/system/libdispatch.dylib
    0x7ff8199b5000 -     0x7ff819e68ff2 com.apple.CoreFoundation (6.9) <56d4b442-85d9-348d-a9d4-4157ee9cc149> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/A/CoreFoundation
    0x7ff82588e000 -     0x7ff825b6f6ed com.apple.HIToolbox (2.1.1) <6a873380-b08e-3337-99bf-711eabb06301> /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/HIToolbox.framework/Versions/A/HIToolbox
    0x7ff81d3bd000 -     0x7ff81e90e2fb com.apple.AppKit (6.9) <994c93a6-44f3-3281-abea-6b8e97918a5f> /System/Library/Frameworks/AppKit.framework/Versions/C/AppKit
               0x0 - 0xffffffffffffffff ??? (*) <00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000> ???
    0x7ff819904000 -     0x7ff819940b6f libsystem_kernel.dylib (*) <df27eb28-275e-3046-a421-655ea736be57> /usr/lib/system/libsystem_kernel.dylib
    0x7ff81aa83000 -     0x7ff81b874db9 com.apple.Foundation (6.9) <b0ee3ebd-7244-3d86-8026-59f9f945f83a> /System/Library/Frameworks/Foundation.framework/Versions/C/Foundation
    0x7ff819941000 -     0x7ff81994cfd7 libsystem_pthread.dylib (*) <a031f066-4daa-3801-9155-88106d874835> /usr/lib/system/libsystem_pthread.dylib
    0x7ff917aec000 -     0x7ff9198e7cd5 com.apple.JavaScriptCore (20621) <ebc29b59-564c-3a4c-b9c4-82906fd44edd> /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaScriptCore.framework/Versions/A/JavaScriptCore
    0x7ff836dbe000 -     0x7ff836fc6907 com.apple.WebKitLegacy (20621) <b301cfc7-c3ad-3c07-a158-f6999201188e> /System/Library/Frameworks/WebKit.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/WebKitLegacy.framework/Versions/A/WebKitLegacy
    0x7ff82544f000 -     0x7ff825472d07 com.apple.audio.caulk (1.0) <a84cc72a-fe0a-3724-a65b-c5b03e47741b> /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/caulk.framework/Versions/A/caulk
    0x7ff823871000 -     0x7ff8238c4913 com.apple.CoreVideo (1.8) <c4f0fbc0-2072-3c37-b8e3-2bb457346b01> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreVideo.framework/Versions/A/CoreVideo

External Modification Summary:
  Calls made by other processes targeting this process:
    task_for_pid: 0
    thread_create: 0
    thread_set_state: 0
  Calls made by this process:
    task_for_pid: 0
    thread_create: 0
    thread_set_state: 0
  Calls made by all processes on this machine:
    task_for_pid: 0
    thread_create: 0
    thread_set_state: 0

VM Region Summary:
ReadOnly portion of Libraries: Total=1.2G resident=0K(0%) swapped_out_or_unallocated=1.2G(100%)
Writable regions: Total=6.1G written=2088K(0%) resident=2088K(0%) swapped_out=0K(0%) unallocated=6.1G(100%)

                                VIRTUAL   REGION 
REGION TYPE                        SIZE    COUNT (non-coalesced) 
===========                     =======  ======= 
Accelerate framework               256K        2 
Activity Tracing                   256K        1 
CG image                          10.9M       38 
ColorSync                          264K       34 
CoreAnimation                     7996K      222 
CoreGraphics                        16K        3 
CoreUI image data                 4068K       31 
Foundation                          36K        2 
Image IO                          14.8M       96 
Kernel Alloc Once                    8K        1 
MALLOC                             1.6G       88 
MALLOC guard page                  480K       30 
Rosetta Arena                     4096K        2 
Rosetta Generic                   3700K      922 
Rosetta IndirectBranch            2048K        1 
Rosetta JIT                      128.0M        1 
Rosetta Return Stack               320K       32 
Rosetta Thread Context             320K       32 
SQLite page cache                  384K        3 
STACK GUARD                         32K        8 
Stack                             16.2M       17 
Stack Guard                       56.0M        9 
VM_ALLOCATE                      141.0M       24 
VM_ALLOCATE (reserved)             3.9G        2         reserved VM address space (unallocated)
WebKit Malloc                    257.1M       40 
__CTF                               824        1 
__DATA                            35.2M      931 
__DATA_CONST                     100.1M      942 
__DATA_DIRTY                      2580K      340 
__FONT_DATA                        2352        1 
__INFO_FILTER                         8        1 
__LINKEDIT                       198.0M       10 
__OBJC_RO                         61.3M        1 
__OBJC_RW                         2394K        2 
__TEXT                             1.1G      962 
__TEXT (graphics)                 7812K        1 
__TPRO_CONST                         8K        2 
libnetwork                        13.6M       40 
mapped file                      371.8M      104 
page table in kernel              2088K        1 
shared memory                      852K       22 
===========                     =======  ======= 
TOTAL                              8.0G     5002 
TOTAL, minus reserved VM space     4.1G     5002 

5 replies

CGG0D4D
CGG0D4DAuthor
Participating Frequently
February 14, 2026

Just an update, after much trial and error and a reluctant consultation with AI (which gave me solutions that did not work in the end, but I learned more about what is actually going wrong, AI thinks “the crash is happening inside the ADE DRM engine, not the UI, not preferences, not the database, and not Keychain” based on my crash reports. In the end, my rinse-and-repeat solution is the only one that’s still working. I keep ADE open in the background and never touch anything inside ADE itself, just double click on acsm files when I download them, and they automatically “open” in ADE, which then fulfills the epub download. I am able to minimize ADE (window sizing options don’t seem to trigger shutdown, phew!) So this is still the only worksround that works on my Mac (I have not year tried safe mode, which seems ot be working for others; and I do not use a VPN, but others have found turning off the VPN can help.)

 

manually delete the activation.dat file (under user/library/application support/adobe/digital editions)

click on an acsm file to open it

ADE opens as the default program for acsm files, but needs re-authorization

enter user name and password to re-authorize ADE

ADE "fulfills” the acms request and downloads epub file

don’t press anything else in ADE (you can minimize the window)

click on another acsm file you want to open in finder

that also gets fulfilled!

keep ADE open in the background to open more acsm files, minimize it when not in use

If you click anything inside ADE, it will quit and keep quitting and you will have to do the whole thing all over again to be able to open acsm files/download epubs again.

hollyt77848574
hollyt77848574
Participant
February 13, 2026

Turn off VPN and ADE works. Scary

I just discovered that ADE works just fine if I turn off my VPN. This is scary, and seems to support the rumor that Adobe wants to spy on us.

D
David31686495o3aw
Participant
February 13, 2026

I’ve found the same thing—was crashing on startup. On a hunch I turned off my VPN and it loads just fine. Not cool. 

hollyt77848574
hollyt77848574
Participant
February 13, 2026

Best solution I’ve found, not ideal

When I start my mac in safe mode, DE seems to work to open books in my library. The program also seems fragile and prone to crashes, but at least I can read what I’ve already downloaded.

Reauthorizing my computer (without being in safe mode) doesn’t work for me.

I can’t always be in safe mode. I’d sure like to find a better solution, but I figured I’d post since what I’ve got seems better than what other users have found.

    CGG0D4D
    CGG0D4DAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 13, 2026

    Oh OK thanks for this. So far my mini-rinse-and-repeat solution seems to be working. I just did it again (deleted the activation.dat file manually, re-authorized, clicked on acsm file, re-authorized, and voila!) None of these solutions are sustainable. I hope there is a fix or permanent solution at some point, but it’s not going to come from Adobe (they don’t support ADE anymore). 

    CGG0D4D
    CGG0D4DAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 12, 2026

    OK so I tried a bunch of things and this helps me be able to use ADE once and only once to open acsm files and add the book to my ADE library:

    manually delete the activation.dat file (under user/library/application support/adobe/digital editions

    click on an acsm file

    ADE opens, but needs re-authorization

    enter user name and password to re-authorize

    ADE "fulfills” the acms request

    don’t press anything else in ADE

    click on another acsm file you want to open in finder

    that also gets fulfilled!

     

    The moment I click on the back button or anything else, ADE quits. After this point, it keeps quitting (as someone described, it flickers on the screen for ½ seconds and then quits, gone!) To be able to open any other acsm files after this I have to repeat the manual delete and re-authorization.

     

    I did not have to install/uninstall ADE nor restart my computer (mac). Just the manual deleted of the activation.dat file did the trick for one-time use.

    cthuluii
    cthuluii
    Participant
    February 11, 2026

    I have just upgraded to Tahoe 26.3 and same sort of crash. No way to use ADE, uninstall and fresh install do the same.

      CGG0D4D
      CGG0D4DAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      February 11, 2026

      Mind you, mine works for a time, like this: after doing all the reinstall, reauth, etc. I open one acsm file. great. Don’t click anything in ADE, just open another acsm file (by clicking on the file, not by going through the file/open option in ADE). Great, that one opens, too. So if I don’t touch ADE in that interval, I can, it seems, open as many acsm files as I want (didn’t test how many, just did 2 acsm files and a pdf for good measure). The moment I click on something inside ADE, like the back button to see the list of books, it quits. So, if your aim is to just open a bunch of acsm files all at once (in my case, add those ebooks to your ADE library by doing so), this works (for me). That I’d have to uninstall, re-install, restart, re-authorize every time to be able to open a bunch of acsm files is not what I would all functional!

      cthuluii
      cthuluii
      Participant
      February 12, 2026

      Ah okay, in my case the app doesn’t even open. It shows the main window for like ½ second and then it crashes. I’ve removed all the books, but nothing seems to help :(

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